Forensic Archaeology

Forensic science is science applied to the law. To be effective forensic scientists, archaeologists need to learn what constitutes the elements of the crimes with which they might interact, how to create documentation for court, and how to qualify as, and be, an expert witness. They may also deal with many types of artifacts, or evidence, not normally found on an archaeological site. This chapter takes a forensic case example from the initial call to the archaeologist by the police to the courtroom and highlights the similarities and differences between anthropological archaeology and forensic archaeology. Forensic archaeology is a subdiscipline that requires not only a strong background in archaeological fieldwork but additional training in the forensic sciences.

This paper aims to propose and validate a methodology which can support forensic technicians while documenting a crime scene, after a contamination event (either accidental or deliberate) has changed its original appearance. Indeed, investigators need fast and automated tools to detect changes that occurred at a scene over time, and solutions to this problem are still an open issue. The contribution of the paper for addressing this need is twofold. First, a new methodology is introduced, that exploits panoramic images acquired with the Ricoh Theta SC camera, and 2D feature-based methods. The core idea is that SIFT features inherently contain scene information and, thanks to their good stability and invariance, can be exploited to detect possible changes that occurred at a scene surveyed with multi-temporal images. Second, in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed methodology, a reference approach is applied, based on state-of-the-art change detection algorithms (MAF/MAD), originally developed for remote sensing applications. Both methods are tested by simulating a typical crime scene, and a contamination event at the Crime Scene House (UK).

Techniques applied to description of hand-press-era literary works can be turned toward popular duplication processes. Close examination of material objects tests other forms of evidence and aids in identifying potential concerns regarding handling and care by special collections professionals. The initial issues of "The Ladder," produced by the Daughters of Bilitis from 1956 to 1972, suggest a route for identifying duplication methods during a period in which many reproduction technologies were available. That diversity points to a greater variety of papers and inks that need to be assessed for best care of materials. It also testifies to the pragmatic approaches that the Daughters of Bilitis took in establishing a publication that proved to be a foundation for the American LGBT movement. The article includes a historical section on the A.B. Dick Company and Mimeograph technologies, comparative images for identifying selected 20th-century duplication techniques, and a bibliographical essay noting technical and historical sources for forensic analysis of print.

This presentation will impact the forensic science community by shedding new light on the thermal stability of bone collagen, allowing for an improved prediction of the success rate of collagen extraction for subsequent analyses such as dating or stable isotope analyses.

All amino acids found in proteins exist as one of two possible stereoisomers, known as L-amino acids and D-amino acids. With the exception of glycine, all amino acids are L-amino acids, which however have the ability to change into the D-form over time. The process of reaching an equilibrium between the L and the D form is called racemization. Amino Acid Racemization (AAR) is a time and temperature dependent process that has found application in the dating of materials, paleothermometry and age at death estimation. Currently there is no clear consensus in the literature regarding the thermal stability of collagen, an issue which this research sheds more light on. Sheep (ovis aries) ribs were cut into 4 cm long pieces and burnt at temperatures between 100 and 1000 °C in 50 °C increments for 45 minutes. All samples were weighed pre and post burning. For demineralization samples were suspended in 0.5 M HCl, which was exchanged every 2 days. After 10 days the HCl was removed and replaced by distilled water until a solution of pH 3 was obtained. Samples were heated at 70 °C for 48 hours and subsequently filtered. The extracted collagen was frozen at -20 °C. 250 μL of solution from each sample were placed in a sterile glass vial adding 100 μL 7 M HCl per sample. The vials were flushed with nitrogen, heated at 110 °C for 18 hours and subsequently dried under vacuum in a centrifugal evaporator. Samples were rehydrated for analysis. The sample’s amino acid composition was analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC using fluorescent detection. 2 μL of sample was injected and mixed with 2.2 μL derivitizing reagent. The amino acids were separated on a C18 HyperSil BDS column (5 mm * 250 mm) at 25 °C using a gradient elution of 3 solvents: sodium acetate buffer, methanol and acetonitrile. The fluorescence detector uses a xenon-arc flash lamp at a frequency of 55 Hz with a 280 nm cut-off filter and an excitation wavelength of 230 nm and emission wavelength of 445 nm. The D and L isomers of 12 amino acids could be analyzed, namely serine, L-threonine, L-histidine, glycine, L-arginine, alanine, tyrosine, valine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine as well as aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The amino acid concentration rapidly decreases from 250 °C onwards, being below reliable detection levels from 400 °C. Up to temperatures of 250 °C, solely aspartic acid racemizes, reaching a D/L ratio of 0.3 at 250 °C. From 300 °C onwards the other amino acids commence racemization. From 400 °C onwards, the total amino acid concentration is too low to accurately depict D/L ratios. The composition of amino acids was dominated by collagen up to 400 °C. The findings illustrate the thermal degradation of bone collagen. Up to 250 °C virtually no amino acid racemization with the exception of aspartic acid, which is one of the only amino acids which can racemize whilst still internally bound, takes place. Collagen, when heated, begins to locally unravel its triple helix, releasing the collagen stabilizing H-bonded water, which leads to a gradual collapse of the triple helical structure at around 150 °C. At temperatures from between 250-300 °C a sudden drop in total amino acid concentration as well as the commencing of racemization of all other amino acids can be observed indicating a catastrophic breakdown of collagen. The now free amino acids continue racemization up until their complete combustion from around 400 °C onwards. Successful collagen extraction is the basis for a multitude of forensically relevant analyses, such as stable isotope analysis, radio carbon dating or genetic profiling. Being able to accurately determine the point at which collagen denaturizes and amino acids are lost is therefore of paramount importance for forensic analyses.

The current focal areas within forensic textile science are fibre identification and assessment of the method of damage to fabrics. This paper investigates fabric degradation within clandestine burials. The fabrics considered in this paper, unlike previous archaeological studies, are a modern polyester–cotton blend (65%/35%) and a 100% cotton fabric both of which are commonly used for men's shirting fabrics in the UK. Three laundering conditions were investigated (i) not-laundered, (ii) laundered 6 times, and (iii) laundered 60 times; this represented varying conditions of fabric upon clothing deposition. The two burial conditions; sand and clay, were selected as extremes of soil type. The deposition times (15 and 30 days) were based on a study of clandestine burials in UK crimes. There were clear differences in how polyester–cotton and cotton stained within the two different soil conditions, polyester–cotton becoming extensively stained after a 30-day deposition in sand. The tear force required to tear the fabric after deposition, suggested that polyester/cotton fabrics were consistently weaker after burial, regardless of soil type and deposition period. There was also significant damage caused to not-laundered cotton fabrics after a 30-day deposition in clay. This work indicates that common apparel fabrics can degrade in relatively short times when buried.

Victim remains at fatal fire scenes are typically difficult to detect, recover and handle. All of the burned material at the scene, including biological tissue, is often modified to a similar appearance and bones, in particular, become discolored, brittle, and highly fragmented. As a consequence, these remains are often missed, disturbed, altered, or even destroyed during scene processing with standard crime scene protocols. The added postmortem fracturing, fragmentation and bone loss resulting from these recovery techniques hinder the already difficult task of autopsy and laboratory analysis of burned human remains. This is especially problematic for bone trauma analysis, as its most immediate goal is distinguishing perimortem (forensically significant) trauma, from postmortem (not forensically significant) alteration. The substantial addition of trauma features created by fire and then recovery can result in a daunting analytical task.

The aim of this course is to introduce law enforcement to the concepts and benefits of forensic archaeology through a hands-on field exercise.  In addition, experienced field archaeologists are welcome to participate in this course to gain an understanding of forensic procedures and protocols.  This course has been approved by the Register for Professional Archaeologists for 14hrs of continuing education credit.  The course agenda is posted here.  Other handouts from this course can be found under "Teaching Documents".

Mass graves are a complex and confusing mix of bodies, body parts, soils, artifacts, and other feature evidence. Forensic investigations of these complex crime scenes should attempt to maximize the collection of evidence, which includes the mortal remains, in their best possible condition as they were deposited within the graves. Two standard methods of mass grave excavation were examined with the aim of identifying the better approach.

""En Filipo II y el Arte de la Guerra tendremos la oportunidad de conocer en profundidad a uno de los más grandes reyes de la antigua Macedonia. Gracias a su habilidad como estratega, diplomático, político y soldado, heredó un reino pobre, débil y acosado por innumerables enemigos y lo transformó en el más poderoso de toda Grecia.

A lo largo de sus páginas podremos conocer la historia del reino Macedonio, desde sus orígenes míticos hasta la formación de un imperio, de la mano del que, a la postre, se convertiría en el padre del mítico Alejandro Magno y en el forjador de un nuevo ejército que cambiaria el devenir de la guerra en la Antigüedad. Filipo II fue el creador de la falange macedonia, formación que se demostraría como inigualable en el campo de batalla y que reportaría incontables victorias sobre poderosos enemigos, como los ilirios, los tesalios, los tracios, los beocios o los atenienses. Pero no sólo eso, logró integrar en el campo de batalla a la infantería y a la caballería para emplearlos en nuevas formaciones tácticas: armó a sus soldados con las míticas sarissas y apreció como pocos las posibilidades militares que la maquinaria de guerra podía proporcionarle, siendo el mecenas de numerosos avances en este campo. Soñó con conquistar el Imperio persa, cuando ya había logrado lo que nadie antes fue capaz: el control de Grecia.

Sólo la muerte le arrebató esa hazaña, pero sentó las bases de lo que más tarde conseguiría su propio hijo. Su figura levantó tanto odios como pasiones; se le conocía como mujeriego y bebedor, pero también por su habilidad para la oratoria, por sus astucia, determinación y valor. Siempre luchó en primera línea junto a sus soldados y nunca permitió que éstos le llamaran rey, sino solo "General".

Forensic investigations involving animal scavenging of human remains require a physical search of the scene and surrounding areas. However, there is currently no standard procedure in the U.K. for physical searches of scavenged human remains. The Winthrop and grid search methods used by police specialist searchers for scavenged remains were examined through the use of mock red fox (Vulpes vulpes) scatter scenes. Forty-two police specialist searchers from two different regions within the U.K. were divided between those briefed and not briefed with fox-typical scavenging information. Briefing searchers with scavenging information significantly affected the recovery of scattered bones (χ2 = 11.45, df = 1, p = 0.001). Searchers briefed with scavenging information were 2.05 times more likely to recover bones. Adaptions to search methods used by searchers were evident on a regional level, such that searchers more accustom to a peri-urban to rural region recovered a higher percentage of sc...

There are times when making a mold of a skull is necessary
and valuable. Creating a facial reconstruction on a casting leaves
the real skull available for study and investigation. Having a
casting of a skull can also be helpful for educational purposes,
and it may be used in a courtroom exhibit. Often the bones of
the skull are damaged, missing, or not always in the most ideal
condition. In these instances, a mold may be the best way to
proceed with a facial reconstruction.

Archaeological theories and methods are developed to reconstruct past human behavior from fragmentary material remains. The interrelated discipline of physical anthropology addresses questions related to skeletal remains while acknowledging taphonomic parameters. The benefit of integrating these disciplines in forensic investigations has gained increasing acknowledgement over the last decades, but the use of forensic archaeology and anthropology (FAA) remains limited in Sweden. The aim of this study is to analyze the field of FAA in Sweden in relation to outdoor and fire crime scenes where human remains are encountered. Based on qualitative interviews, the state and potential developments of FAA within the Swedish police and the National Board of Forensic Medicine are discussed. The results show that for ensic investigations and analysis of human fragmentary remains are not standardized in Sweden. A great responsibility is placed on the individual crime scene investigator who elects how to investigate these sites and who to contract for the analysis of osteological remains. This can endanger evidence collection and interpretation. This study shows that investigations of buried or fragmentary human remains in Sweden could be aided by a development of FAA. Key steps to further development of FAA within Swedish police involve 1) quantifying cases that could benefit from FAA, 2) establish FAA as an independent subject, 3) develop a national infrastructure, 4) offer professional education in the subject(s), and 4) develop best practice to advance evidence collection and legal security in investigations involving fragmentary human remains. An ongoing ISO accreditation of outdoor crime scene investigations within the Swedish police will hopefully benefit FAA development and collaborations with external partners.

Detecting burial sites in archaeology often involves various prospecting methods such as field survey, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity, and remote sensing. This paper presents the results of utilizing human remains detection dogs in detecting prehistoric burials dated to the Iron Age in Europe. Human remains detection (HRD) dogs or cadaver dogs are commonly used in criminal cases. However, they are used less frequently for detecting historic burials. Our research was conducted at the burial site of the prehistoric hillfort of Drvišica (Croatia) located on the littoral slope of the Velebit mountains. A total of four HRD dogs were used in both a blinded and double-blinded search. Those locations where an HRD dog produced an indication were subjected to both visual inspection and archaeological excavation. This research has resulted in the discovery of five new prehistoric tombs as well as HRD dogs detecting previously excavated tombs. Therefore, in this paper, we demonstrate that HRD dogs are a valuable tool for locating burials like other non-destructive archaeo- logical search methods.

Written in the hope that it may shed some light on what is a poorly recognised yet important piece of Ancient Greek philosophical work. This article is a summary into the Athenian interlocutor's argument into the relevance and existence of the Gods within the Ancient Greek Society as seen in Plato's Laws Book X. With specific reference to the purpose of the argument for the overall book.

Criminal cases are becoming more complex in Malaysia which some cases required the utilisation of forensic archaeological techniques. Therefore, this paper aims to define the extent of forensic archaeology presence in Malaysia by assessing its applications in several cases. The medicolegal outline in Malaysia normally involved the police, public hospitals and National Institute of Forensic Medicine with occasional participation by other organisations. Four case studies have been examined ranging from murder, aircraft disaster, legal occasions and mass graves. Mona Fandey’s murder case was one of the earliest cases in Malaysia that employed forensic archaeological procedures. MH17 crash provided the unexpected circumstance where excavation needed to be done. For legal occasions, the army repatriations showed the heavy role played by Malaysian Nuclear Agency which provided geophysical survey expertise. The recovery of mass graves in Ops Wawasan Khas represented the risk of exhumations done without the observance of forensic archaeology experts. Conventional archaeological findings in Malaysia also provided a basis to develop forensic archaeology in this country. Perak Man’s recovery processes could be employed in the recovery of modern skeletal remains. The use of ground-penetrating radar in Bujang Valley archaeological sites should also be used in searching procedures of clandestine graves. The main hindrance of forensic archaeology development in Malaysia would be the low number of experts. Several recommendations such as education, training and extended usage of geophysical surveys have been made. With the recommendations made, it can be concluded that forensic archaeology in Malaysia is currently developing at a positive rate.

The aim of this volume is to present forensic archaeology as a stand-alone discipline, complementary but distinct from forensic anthropology as well as to demonstrate the multidiscipline nature of forensic archaeological practice.  This book hopes to achieve this by looking beyond basic excavation methods and skeletal analyses towards novel theories and applications from active practitioners.  Many of the chapters present new approaches and methods not previous covered in other forensic archaeology books, some of which may be of direct use to those conducting criminal investigation.  The contributors to this volume are all actively involved in the field of forensic archaeology and regularly aid law enforcement.  The chapters are derived from papers presented at the Society for American Archaeology’s Annual meeting.  The document here is the book proposal accepted by the publisher Springer.

Collecting and processing forensic evidence during a death investigation has become an endeavor that may incorporate numerous personnel from many disciplines. During death investigations, specialized forensic experts regularly consult with law enforcement agencies at city, state, and federal levels, and with medical examiner and coroner offices. These forensic experts can also provide training, specialized laboratory analyses of forensic evidence, and services for which law enforcement may have very little or no training. Forensic archaeology is one such discipline that can provide specialized expertise at the crime scene. In addition to discussing the differences between forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, this article presents a summary of the contributions that forensic archaeology can make during the search for and processing of crime scenes involving human remains.

"Representations", N. 129, Winter 2015.

The essay analyzes the project of maintaining the body of V. I. Lenin in the Mausoleum in Moscow for the past ninety years, focusing on the unique biological science that developed around this project, and the unexpected political role this body has performed.

Trata sobre las herramientas metodológicas y conceptuales de la arqueología forense en México. Sus antecedentes, estado actual y perspectivas de investigación circunscrito en un contexto social de violencia.
se basa en la idea de que el contexto es el objeto de estudio a la hora de recuperar los restos humanos en campo.

Soft tissue trauma has been widely accepted throughout forensic and archaeological sciences as being a factor that can alter the rate of decomposition, in both human and animal cadavers. However, recent studies have contradicted this theory suggesting trauma is not a significant variable, showing no impact on the rate of decomposition. Despite these statements, anomalies occurred during their research. This study was therefore conducted to assess if large-scale penetrative trauma can affect both the decomposition rate and pattern. Two porcine cadavers were used, one of which received a thorabdominal incision spanning from the thoracic to the pelvic region. The other cadaver was left in a pristine condition with no trauma or wounds upon its body. The methods used to assess if a variation was made included; recording the progressive stages of decomposition through photographs and notes, evaluating the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) and observing/identifying the entomological activity. The results of this dissertation found that large soft tissue trauma does in fact affect both the rate and pattern of decomposition.

The formalisation of forensic archaeology into the many sub-disciplines of both forensic science and archaeology has spawned a large number of university classes and degree programmes in the UK and US.  The overwhelming interest in forensic science has, in part, fuelled this surge.  However, the structure and quality of what is on offer varies widely.  Are any of the programmes on offer of any worth and what are the chances of employment?  This paper looks to examine how the theory of training the next generation of forensic archaeologists compares with the career in practise.  What does the future hold for forensic archaeology and does the education available meet those needs?

First chapter of "The Archaeology of the Spanish Civil War". The book offers the first comprehensive account of this conflict from an archaeological perspective, providing an alternative narrative on one of the most important conflicts of the twentieth century, widely seen as a prelude to the Second World War.

Between 1936 and 1939, totalitarianism and democracy, fascism and revolution clashed in Spain, while the latest military technologies were being tested, including strategic bombing and combined arms warfare, and violence against civilians became widespread. Archaeology, however, complicates the picture as it brings forgotten actors into play: obsolete weapons, vernacular architecture, ancient structures (from Iron Age hillforts to sheepfolds), peasant traditions, and makeshift arms. By looking at these things, another story of the war unfolds, one that pays more attention to intimate experiences and anonymous individuals. Archaeology also helps to clarify battles, which were often chaotic and only partially documented, and to understand better the patterns of political violence, whose effects were literally buried for over 70 years. The narrative starts with the coup against the Second Spanish Republic on 18 July 1936, follows the massacres and battles that marked the path of the war, and ends in the early 1950s, when the last forced labor camps were closed and the anti-Francoist guerrillas suppressed.

The book draws on 20 years of research to bring together perspectives from battlefield archaeology, archaeologies of internment, and forensics. It will be of interest to anybody interested in historical and contemporary archaeology, human rights violations, modern military history, and negative heritage

The chemical and physical properties of the Shroud of Turin, both of the non-image background, the image areas, the pinkish red bloodstains and the separate serum, especially their absorbance, fluorescence and FTIR spectra, are described and shown to be evidence for the presence of a pinkish red heme-madder complex, formed by the chemical interaction of authentic acid postmortem blood with yellow madder dye on the cloth before image formation. Besides the many normal blood characteristics, the lack of potassium of the red bloodstains indicates that the blood was hyperkalemic: that potassium had moved out of the red blood cells into the plasma, which inevitably occurs in acidemic blood. The absorbance spectra of the bloodstains